Door-controlling device



C. W. POTTS.

DOOR CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1919.

1,337,954. Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Y J ,1. WW 04 I FFliCE.

CHARLES W. PGT'ES, O33 KELLERTON, IGVJA.

DOOR-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

i- Application filed September 2 To all 707M772, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. PoTTs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kellerton, in the State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Door-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a door, automatically operated, for use in connection with breeders or coops in which very young chickens are housed, the door operating or closing when a given number of chickens have entered, in order that the breeder or coop may not be overcrowded, and the chickens smothered.

A further object is to provide a device which shall operate when each chicken enters the coop, this device when tripped producing the partial rotation of an element which having moved a predetermined distance, depending upon the number o't chickens to be housed in the particular coop, will release a gravity operated door, permitting the latter to close, thereby preventing other chickens from entering. A separate door in the coop permits the chickens to emerge when this door is operated manually, at the proper time.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudi nal section through the runway in which the door is mounted; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construction. In each view a portion of the coop is shown in section.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a runway designated 10 and having a pivotally mounted bottom element 12, and sides 13 and 14. The element 12 is pivoted at 15,.

and above the pivoted bottom at that end of the runway designed to enter an opening in the coop, is a pivotally mounted door 16, normally retained in the position shown. This door is preferably of wire mesh, so that the young chickens desiring to enter the coop will be able to observe the other chickens which have previously entered, or in any event will be able to see beyond the door.

Specification of Letters Patent.

9, 1919. Serial No. 327,166.

A connecting rod 17 is pivotally secured to the door 16, at one end, and at the other end is pivotally secured to the element 12, this element last named being tripped as the chicken )asses inwardly, and raises the inner end of the door 16, permitting the chicken to pass through.

At the opposite end oi the runway is a gravity operated door 20 moving in guides 21, 22, this door being opened at the required time in the evening, and the apparat-us described below being set for retaining the door in an elevated or open position until a predetermined number of chickens have passed into the coop.

A toothed wheel is mounted in bearings in uprights 26, 27, secured to the sides of the runway. Loosely mounted on the shaft 25 of said wheel is an arm 28, and a rod 29 is connected pivotally with one end thereof, said rod passing through an aperture 26 in the door 20, for retaining the latter normally in an open position.

A bail shaped member 30 is pivotally connected with the element 12 and includes a transverse element 81 acting as a feeding pawl and cooperating with the toothed wheel 25. A spring 33 retains the pawl in engagement with the teeth of the wheel. A resilient element 35 prevents the movement of the wheel in a reverse direction, exceptwhen such resilient element is thrown out, for the purpose of i e-setting the wheel. A stop 36 projects from the side of the wheel and-engages one end of the element after the wheel has revolved through a predetermined angle. A series of numbers may be placed on the side of the wheel, each number being opposite one of the teeth, so that it will be a matter of a moment only to ascertain in what position the wheel should be set in order that the door 20 may be closed when a given number of chickens have passed in.

It will be observed that the pivoted bottom 12 controls the door 16, and through the intermittent operation of the U-shaped or bail-shaped frame 30 constituting a feeding pawl, rotates the wheel 25 until element 36 is in position for engaging arm 28 and causing the latter to withdraw rod 29 and release the gravity operated door.

What is claimedis- In a device of the class descnbed, a door,

means for retaining the door in an open po- I means, and a swinging element mount-ed on the axis of the'iotary device and thrown to operative position by a predetermined mo ve-' ment of said rotary device, the swinging eie- 1o rnent having connection with the door retanning means; i

In testimony whereof I afi ix my signature.

CHARLES W. POTTS. 

